Boat carrying children destined for slavery headed back home

COTONOU, Benin (AP) - A boat carrying scores of children believed to be destined for slavery was headed back to Benin after being turned away from two African ports, government officials said Friday.

The boat was thought to have left the country's commercial capital, Cotonou, clandestinely about three weeks ago.

Government officials said they thought about 100 children were aboard and that they had come from Benin and neighboring Togo.

Moussa Zoumarou, director of the social and women's affairs ministry, said he was informed about the ship by officials in Douala, Cameroon.The boat had previously been turned away by port authorities in Libreville, Gabon, Zoumarou said.